Child&#39;s folding chair



Jam 1m, 1,656,352

0. GROLL CHILD'S FOLDING CHAIR Filed MayV, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 jam w, 192%; 1,656,352

O. GROLL CHILD'S FOLDING 01mm Filed May v, 1926 ZShee'G-Sheet *2 le- 111 ill Patented Jan. i7, 192s.

UNI/TEDSTATES or'ro ononn, or nzw You, N. Y.

on'rnn's romance cum.

Application filed Ivy 7,

This'invention relates to improvements in I childrens chairs and more particularly to which the seat, si e members, back, and tray of the chair will be so constructed and proportioned that when these parts are folded the chair will occupy no greater space than that substantially defined by the marginal dimensions of the seat and by the combinedthickness of the several parts, so that the chair will occupy minimum space in its folded or collapsed condition.

. Another object: of the invention is to provide a chair of the type referred to so constructed that, when the chair is unfolded and its component parts arranged for use of the chair,'there will be no necessity of manipulating any clamping devices or other mechanical clamping or securing means for holding the parts in their proper relative positions.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the chair that when a child is occupying the same there can be no possibility of collapse of the chair with consequent liability of injury to the child.

Another object of the invention. is to so construct the chair 'that the sus nsion means'therefor, which is engageab e with the hack of an ordinary chair, will serve likewise as a means for maintaining'the component parts of the chair in their collapsed position, when the chair isnot In use.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a-perspective view of the chair embodying the invention mounted upon an ordinary chair.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the chair collapsed or folded.

Figure 3 is a vertical front to'rear sectional view through the chair, taken substantially on the lino-3-3 of Figure 1,1o'oking in the direction indicated bythe arrows.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig- 1938. Serial No. 107,421.

ure 3, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows.

. Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the chair illustrating a slight modification of the invention.

The chair consists essentially of a seat 1, a back 2, sides 3,'and a tray- 4, and means connecting these parts to permit of folding of the same, and also a suspension means, all of which will presently be specifically described. The seat, back, sides and tray are all preferably made of wood, and the seat 1 is of rectangular form and is provlded adjacent its rear edge with transverse slots indicated by the numeral 5. The back 2 of the chair is provided near its lower edge with transverse slots indicated by the numeral 6 and spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of the slots 5, and loops 7 are engaged freely through the respective slots and serve to swingingly connect the said seat and back so that they mav be relatively folded. The loops 7 may be in the nature of leather straps or the loops may be of metal, either as preferred. 1

In order that the chair may be supported upon the back of an ordinary chair, a series of eye members 8 is arranged upon the rear j side of the back 2, parallel to the side or vertical edges of the said back, and suspension rods 9 are slidably adjustably fitted through the eye members of each series. Each rod has its upper end-portion overturned to provide a suspension hook 10 for engagement over the upper edge of the back of an ordinary chair, as clearly shown. in Figure 1 of the drawings, so that the Suspension rods may be thus supported and extend downwardly in front of the back of thesaid ordinary chair. The lower end portion of each of the suspension rods is bent at right angles, as at 11, so as to provide a 'stop indicate 7 byithe numeral 12 and when the suspension rods are so adjusted that their hooked upper ends 10 extend rearwardly with relation .to the plane of the back 2, the stops 12 will engage the lowermost ones of the eye members 8. The engagement of the stops 12 with the lowermost eye members 8 serves, of course, to limit the upward movement of the suspension rods 9 through the said members and, therefore, when the hooked upper ends of the members are engaged over the upper edge of the back of an ordinary chair, the back 2 of the chair embodying the invention will be securely supported in upright position, as shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings.

In order that the seat 1 may be supported substantially horizontally and in a fixed position with respect to the back 2, chains or other flexible connections, indicated by the numeral 13, are secured each at one end to an eye 14 at or adjacent a respective one of the accommodated in recesses 17 formed in the inner sides of the respective side members 3, and the remaining lengths of the chains extending beside the outer sides ofthe said side members. In this manner, the seat is firmly supported in substantially horizontal position and in proper relation to the back 2, and in order the first mentioned portions of the stretches of the chains may be accommodated between the side members 3 and the seat 1, when the side members are folded to overlie the seat, as will presently be explained, companion recesses 18 are formed in the upper side of the seat near each lateral edge thereof, so that in the folded positions of the parts, the recesses 17 and 18 will substantially match to accommodate the said portions of the chains or other flexible ele ments 13 and thus prevent any marringof the finish of the sides and seat of the chair.

if the said flexible elements are of a metallic nature. However, as shownin Figure 5 of the drawings, which illustrates a slight modification, the flexible elements, which are, in said figure, indicated by the numeral 19, may be in the nature of straps. In any event, these elements will be flexible so, as not to in any way interfere with free foldmg movement of the seat, sides and back of the chair.

The sides 3 of the chairare connected with the seat 1'at opposite sides of the seat by loops 20 which do not differ essentially from the loops 7 which connect the back 2 with the seat 1, and these loops are engaged through slots 21 formed in the sides 3 and other slots 22 formed in the seat 1 near the lateral edges thereof, and in this manner the sides are foldably connected with the seat 1. a The tray 4 is, as reviously stated, made of wood, and has su stantially parallel side edges and a rounded forward extension, the latter indicated by the numeral 23, the rear edge of the tray being curved inwardly and forwardly as indicated by the numeral 24, so as to accommodate itself to the body of the child occupyingfthe chair. The extenthe tray. The tray 4 is its lateral edge portions with. aslot 31 ex length of the side 'tive slots 31 as shown in 7 games: 1,.

sion 23 of the tray is of less width than the g,

main 'portion'yof'the tray and at the juncture of the ends of thelgounded for ward edge of the extension withthfifrofit ed e portions of the main portion of the tray, t e tray is formed with slots 25 accommo ating the looped ends 26 of straps 27, which may be of leather, metal, or any other material found suitable for the purpose. The straps 27 are formed at their other ends with loops 28 which engage in slots.29 formed in the seat 1 at the forward corners thereof and in this manner the tray is. connected with the seat so as to occupy a position ada ting it for. use as shown in Figure 1 of the rawings and likewise in Figure 3, and also to occupy the folded position shown in Figure 2 of thedrawings, in which position the" tray lies beneath the seat 1. In order that the tray may be supported in position for use, the sides 3 of the chair are formed near their free or upper edges, each with a longi tudinally extending slot 30 adapted to receive the respective lateral. edge 'ortion of formed in each of tending in a front to rear direction and opening through the forward edge of the main portion of the tray and these slots are of a width corresponding substantially to the thickness of the sides 3 of the chair, as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the draw' The slots 30 are of a length ual to e portions of t e tray so that each side portlon of the tray may be inserted through the slot 30 in the respective side 3 of the chair and the tray then shifted bodily in" a forward direction so as to interlock the same with the said sides 3, .the portions of the sides immediately in advance of the forward ends of the slots 30 being snugly received between the side walls of the respec- Figures 1 and 4. In this manner, the tray the chair are interlocked so that supported by the side members relatively brace the side members to maintain the same in upright position.

Itwill be evident from the foregoing description of the invention that when the com- -the tray is .ponent parts of the chair are arranged as and, in turn,

and the sides of observed by reference to the .drawings that the sides 3 are of trapezoidal form, the uppen and lower edges of each side being arallel and the forward edge of eing at right angles to the said upper and lower edges, whereasjthe rear edge of each side -is inclined upwardly and forwardl The sides are thus formed in order that t e chair maybe more readily set and folded, and in collapsing or folding each side 11 the chair, the

. ed down to position overlying the folded seat '1 is swung upwardly until the inclined rear edges of the sides engage against the back of the seat, thus slackening the chains or other flexible connections 13 to ermit of relative outward swinging of the s1des 3, this being done after the tray 4 has been shifted rearwardly so that the opposite sides there-- of may clear the slots 30. I The tray is swung bodily forwardly and downwardly to a position lying beneath *the seat 1, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the straps 27 permitting ofsuch movement of the tray without interference. The sides 3 are then folded inwardly so as to-lie upon'the' upper side of the seat 1, and preferably these sides are of suchheight that when they are thus arranged their normally upper edges, which, when the' chair is in use, constitute arm rests, will approximately 'abutas shown inFigure 2 of the drawings; The back 2 is'then foldsides 3, as shown in the said Figure 2, and

- the suspension rods-9 are then rotated part of a revolution so as tobring their hooked ends into engagement beneath the outer cor nets of the said sides 3, as illustrated in Figure 2, thereby securing the parts in then. folded osition. In order that the suspension ro s may be thus positioned, slots 32' are formed in the lower corner portions of the back 2 and accommodate the right angularly turned stops 12 at the lower ends of the said rods, it being understood that the rods are shifted in theveyelets for a short distance in order to provide for such manipulation-thereof to enable them to serve 1 as retaining members.

- It will be understood, of course, that all of the component parts of thechair, such for example as'the seat 1, back 2, sides 3,

and tray 4, may be of any desired ornamental marginal contour and may be ornamented or decorated in any manner found desirable.

It will likewise be observed by reference to Figure2 of the drawings, that when the structure is folded it will occupy but littlespace, inasmuch as the thickness of the folded structure is equal merely to the combined thickness of the seat 1, one of the sides 3, the back'2, and thetray 4, the marginal, di-

mensions-of the folded chair being no greater than substantially the' marginal dimensions oftheseatlor back 2.

. It will be understood that the chains or other flexible elements-13 serve not only'to support the forwardportion of the seat 1 so I that the seat will occupy av proper position with respect to the back 2, but, likewise, 1nas'- openings 16 in the sides 3 of the chair, theyserve to automatically swing the sides to much as these elements extend through the substantially upright position when the-back 2 is swung upwardlyrandto maintain the vsides in'this position-whilethe tray 4 is-being arranged between the said sides and" wise, the arrangement is such that there is no'liability of collapse of the chair while it is not occupied.

Having thus lescribcd the invention, what I claim is: I p

1'. A folding chair of the class described, including a seat, sides foldably connected with the seat, a tray,means carried by the tray for slidably and detachably interlocking the sides therewith, and flexible means oonnecting the tray and seat and adaptable to 7 permit the tray to. be folded beneath the seat. a l V 2. A'folding chair of the class described, including a seat, a back foldably connected with the-seat, sides foldably connected with the seat, and. flexible supporting elements connected at their ends to the seat and back and extending between t he'same to support the seat in unfolded position with respect to the back, the'sides havin openings for the passage therethrough of the said flexible elements and the said sides and seat havin recesses to accommodate the portions 0 the stretches, of the said elements which extend along the inner faces of the sides, whereby 'the said sidesmay be folded to lie flat upon the u per side of the seat and the said back may e folded to lie flat upon the folded sides. i

3. A folding chair of the class described, including a seat, a back foldably connected with the seat, sides foldably connected with the seat and arran ed, in the folded position of the parts, to lie between the seat and back,

side of the back for rotative movement and provided at their upper ends with engaging hooks, the said hooks, in the folded position of the parts, being engageable, through roltative adjustment of the said suspension rods, with the said sides of the chair to maintain the said parts folded.

4. A folding chair of the class described, including a seat, aback foldably connected with the seat, sides foldably connected with the seat and arranged in the folded position of the parts to lie between the seat and back, guide members mounted upon the rear side of the. back, and suspension rods rotatably and slidably mounted in the guide members, the said rods being provided at their upper ends with engaging hooks and having their lower ends turned at an angle to provide angularly extendingsto'p members for enagement with the guide members, the saidooks, in the folded position of the parts,

and suspension rods mounted upon the rear tray insertable at its ends in said slots and having members interlocking with the said sides, a back to whichthe rear side of the 15 seat is hingcdly connected, the said s'ides having upwardly and forwardly inclined rear edges opposing the said back and proor upward swinging of the seat and the sides, and flexible elements connected with the back and with the seat and extending through openings in the said sides and held taut when the seat is in lowered position substantially at right an les to the back and adapted to be slackene when the seat is tilted upwardly, whereby by reason of suchslackemng, the sides may be spread apart to provide for from.

In testimony whereof I affix m OTTO GROLL. [13.5.14

separation of the traytherev signature. 

